Weekly Devotional: Embracing God’s Plan in Times of Change

man standing in nature looking forward

Change will always happen in our lives — it’s inevitable. At times, change can be very scary and daunting. There may not be much that we can directly change or do, but there’s one thing we can control, and that’s our attitude and mindset of embracing change.

It’s okay to be nervous about new things, but if the change is from God, we should embrace it with open arms and follow his commands. There are ways in which we can embrace the new and see it as a new opportunity from God. Here, we will take a look at a few ways to navigate change to help make it a little easier.

In This Article:

Letting Go and Letting God
 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

God has great plans for each of us. Despite the difficulty of letting go and taking a step back, it can truly transform us, but only if we let God do the transforming from within our hearts. It’s easy to get swept up in our own thoughts and to overthink all the possibilities. Anxiousness can sweep over us without us even realizing it.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV

Fear and lies are the greatest weapons of the enemy. Which is why we can’t lean on our own understanding. Our vision and knowledge are limited compared to God’s. We can use the wisdom of God and the Bible to help us in recognizing what we should do. God is able to see and know things that we can’t, so even though change can be a nerve-wracking obstacle to face, we are never alone.

Power of Prayer

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10, NIV

As you may be navigating through change, you can seek out God. Our God is a good and giving God. He has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us. God listens to our prayers and loves when we talk to him. With the power of prayer, we can accomplish many things.

We can always pray to God and ask whether this change is coming from him and if it’s part of his plan for us. God’s wisdom aids us and offers support when we’re met with unknown possibilities and factors that we can’t control. God guides us through these different chapters of our lives, and he never leaves or abandons us.

Community Support

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:44-16, NIV

Fellowship and having a community by your side can be very helpful when embracing change. In the Book of Acts, we can see the value and strength there is in community. The people of God supported one another as they went through different transitions in their lives. As scripture says, when believers come together, we are able to help and give to one another.

We can build a community like that with each other. Church and joining bible studies or youth groups are great places to find other believers and ask for help or prayer. Community support helps us not feel alone through times of uncertainty. Don’t be afraid to meet others and grow your community. We all need each other no matter what we all may be going through. Everyone can always have and support a new friend.

Opportunity for Growth

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3, NIV

Change can bring forth an opportunity to grow. Challenges help form and shape us into becoming stronger. God is always building us up. At times, we might mistake nervousness for excitement. It can be exciting to take new steps and start a new chapter in your life.

We can embrace change and make it a new opportunity for us to grow and get closer to God. To lean on him for strength and understanding. To follow his path and plan he has laid out for us. We can approach change with gratitude, hope and faith. God is leading us and making a path for us to follow. We can live life by God’s perfect plan.

Grand Canyon University is committed to helping all the students and members build and grow a community. To join and learn more, you can fill out the form at the top of the page and take a look at our Christian identity and mission. To learn more about spiritual life and community here at GCU, browse through our other weekly devotionals.

Approved by the local outreach coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on Dec. 14, 2023.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.

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